The Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India on Saturday welcomed Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s move of mandatory registration for home-cooked food sellers which will help reduce health risk of consumers.
The apex hospitality association has stated that food operators, whether operating from home or from dark kitchens, should be regulated for cleanliness and hygiene, FHRAI said in a statement.
It also pointed out that unregistered, unregulated food business operators may not be maintaining hygiene standards, which is detrimental to the interest of consumers and poses health risks.
“FSSAI Has responded to our plea and is taking to task any such unregulated and illegal dark kitchens. Quite a few of these are actually funded and run by the Food Service Aggregators to escape responsibilities attached to operating restaurants legally and of course, also taxes.”
It has said that several dark kitchens are operating without any conformation to standard hospitality or kitchen hygiene practices.
“Restaurants and hotels are subjected to rigors of State and Central laws for operating food businesses, but these illegal dark kitchens operate without any license. They have no need or requirement for adhering to any norms especially, hygiene and cleanliness related which all registered restaurants and hotels follow”